Small speaker based on TB 3" bamboo

[Jamh]

I have been experimenting with small speakers lately. I built a couple of different configuration, coax, 2 way and single full range. This is the best sounding of the bunch. As a matter of fact I am quite surprised at its performance.

The driver used is the Tang Band W3-1364SA 3" Bamboo Cone. It it encased in a heart oak cylinder (4" diameter x 1" height), and there is a dispersion cone made of oak as well. The resonance chamber is 4" x 30" PVC, dampened by a 1/2" layer of ceiling insulation. Internal wire is pure silver.

I know a lot of folks go for the 4" version of this driver, but if you let it burn in, it does wonders for you.

Well here it is. Too bad you can't hear it..

[Jamh]

Details of the head.

[Jamh]

All the wood pieces were made from heart of oak (darker and much harder than the oak you buy at the store).

Here you can see the shape of the dispersion cone.

[Jamh]

And finally in the listening position. I am using a single ended amp to drive these. Be aware that they are not very sensitive. I would rate them at around 86~87 db. But the sound is beautiful, quite lush to my surprise. The bass extends to 70ish. The highs, although not quite 20k, are very clear. All in all for the size, pretty nice..

[Jamh]

PS: A trick for making the PVC pipes look good: sand them down a bit, and not completely uniformly. I leave thin vertical streaks (not sanded) and everyone wants to know what it is made of.

[planet10]

Those aree nice, but i worry a bit about facing a driver with an open voice coil upwards,

dave

[Godzilla]

>>> Those aree nice, but i worry a bit about facing a driver with an open voice coil upwards

Maybe he can make a grill that covers it all.

[DocLorren]

JAMH,

Nice work. I never heard upward facing drivers with dispersion cones. How do they perform directional wise? Do these have sweet spots?
Can you enjoy them regardless of position?

[Jamh]

Originally posted by DocLorren
JAMH,

Nice work. I never heard upward facing drivers with dispersion cones. How do they perform directional wise? Do these have sweet spots?
Can you enjoy them regardless of position?

They radiate in all directions so the staging is quite good, and independent of the listening position. You can tune the shape of the dispersion cone to narrow, or wide. I personally like the sound in a large area so the cones' profile is less severe.

Re: worry about up-facing drivers, the cone do a good job protecting them.

[901Fixer]

Originally posted by planet10
Those aree nice, but i worry a bit about facing a driver with an open voice coil upwards,

dave

Could you expound on this concern, I'm considering some of these for dash speakers in a car, facing up towards the windshield but with grilles. Isn't the voice coil on the backside/bottom of this and any driver?

My dash mounting would be an OB I suppose, I will seal the top of the dash from the bottom. Is there any concern with using these this way or is an enclosure necessary? I'll probably HP with a single cap for around 400hz or so.